Committee votes to extend youth vaping and drug-prevention program sunset for five years

Senator Vickers presented Senate Bill 46, which proposes a five-year extension for the youth electronic cigarette, marijuana and other drug prevention program (UMOP). The bill follows a sunset review completed during the interim and reprioritizes the way tax revenue from e-cigarette sales is allocated toward enforcement and prevention programs.

Vickers told the committee the interim review reassessed how funds have been used over the past five years and recommended prioritizing enforcement and local public-health prevention activities. He said the list of priorities places enforcement and local health-department prevention work near the top and retains funding for statewide programs overseen by the UMOP committee and some allocations that have gone to the State Board of Education.

"We decided...we're not just gonna rubber stamp and say we're going to extend the sunset," Vickers said, describing the committee's work to review program effectiveness and funding priorities. He said the bill recommends a five-year extension because the policy space is changing and revenue flows are uncertain after recent restrictions on flavored e-cigarette products.

Art Brown, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, spoke in support, urging continued interagency coordination and commending enforcement dollars that have been used to target distributors and retail noncompliance. Committee members described months of work and multi-agency participation during the interim review.

Representative Fitzsimona moved to pass SB 46 with a favorable recommendation; the chair announced the motion passed.

Votes at a glance: the committee passed SB 46 (UMOP sunset extension) with a favorable recommendation; chair announced the motion passed (roll-call tally not specified).